U.S. patent application number 15/140774 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-03 for optical information reader manually handled by users.
This patent application is currently assigned to DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED. The applicant listed for this patent is DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Kenryo YAMAMOTO.
Application Number | 20160321484 15/140774 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55968903 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160321484 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YAMAMOTO; Kenryo |
November 3, 2016 |
OPTICAL INFORMATION READER MANUALLY HANDLED BY USERS
Abstract
An optical information reader includes a main body portion in
which a reading opening is formed; and a grip portion that is
connected to a section of the main body portion other than a
section in which the reading opening is formed, and is gripped by a
user. The reader further includes a light-receiving sensor that
captures an image of a predetermined imaging area AR through the
reading opening; and a control circuit that performs an
interpreting process of a code image of an information code imaged
by the light-receiving sensor. An extending portion that extends
towards the information code side is provided in a periphery of the
reading opening. An opened portion is formed in a section of the
extending portion other than a section on the grip portion
side.
Inventors: |
YAMAMOTO; Kenryo;
(Takahama-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED |
Chita-gun |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
Chita-gun
JP
|
Family ID: |
55968903 |
Appl. No.: |
15/140774 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 7/10821 20130101;
G06K 2207/1011 20130101; G06K 7/10881 20130101; G06K 7/10732
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06K 7/10 20060101
G06K007/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 2015 |
JP |
2015-091426 |
Apr 27, 2016 |
JP |
2016-089564 |
Claims
1. An optical information reader comprising: a main body portion
that includes a reading opening through which illumination light
and reflected light of the illumination light are transmitted; a
grip portion that is rigidly connected to a section of the main
body portion other than a section in which the reading opening is
formed, and is gripped by a user; an imaging unit that optically
captures an image of a predetermined imaging area through the
reading opening; and an interpreting unit that performs an
information code interpreting process based on the image of the
imaging area captured by the imaging unit, wherein an extending
portion that extends towards a reading side of the reading opening
is provided in a periphery of the reading opening, and the
extending portion has an opened portion that is formed by being, at
least partially, cut out from a tip end portion of the extending
portion and allows a line-of-sight of the user to pass.
2. The optical information reader of claim 1, wherein the extending
portion has an end on the reading side thereof, at least part of
the end is formed so as to run along a one edge of the imaging area
provided by the imaging unit.
3. The optical information reader of claim 1, wherein the extending
portion has a wall portion connected to a section of the grip
portion, the wall portion being formed so as to allow the end on
the reading side to run along the one edge of the imaging area
provided by the imaging unit.
4. The optical information reader of claim 2, wherein the extending
portion has a part which is present next to the grip portion, the
part being formed so as to allow the end on the reading side to run
along the one edge of the imaging area provided by the imaging
unit.
5. The optical information reader of claim 4, wherein the extending
portion has a part which is present next to the grip portion, the
part being formed to have a length at the end on the reading side,
the length being substantially equal to a one edge of the imaging
area on a grip portion side.
6. The optical information reader of claim 1, wherein the opened
portion has a length, the length becoming larger in a front-back
direction as moving away from the grip portion, the reading opening
and the information code being opposed to each other in the
front-back direction when the information code is read.
7. The optical information reader of claim 1, wherein the opened
portion has a further length which is one-half or longer in
relation to a distance, the further length being taken in a
direction in which the reading opening and the information code is
opposed to each other when the information code is read, the
distance being taken between a section of a periphery of the
reading opening on the grip portion side and a section opposite the
section on the grip portion side.
8. The optical information reader of claim 1, wherein the extending
portion includes a section opposite the section on the grip portion
side, and the opened portion is composed of one or more opened
portions partially cut out from a tip of the section opposite the
section on the grip portion side.
9. The optical information reader of claim 1, wherein the extending
portion includes an tip end which has a tapered surface, the
tapered surface being touched to a surface of a display medium on
which the information code is attached, such that the extending
portion has an extending direction which is oblique to the surface
when a user when the information code is read.
10. The optical information reader of claim 3, wherein the
extending portion has a part which is present next to the grip
portion, the part being formed so as to allow the end on the
reading side to run along the one edge of the imaging area provided
by the imaging unit.
11. The optical information reader of claim 10, wherein the
extending portion has a part which is present next to the grip
portion, the part being formed to have a length at the end on the
reading side, the length being substantially equal to a one edge of
the imaging area on a grip portion side.
12. The optical information reader of claim 11, wherein the opened
portion has a length, the length becoming larger in a front-back
direction as moving away from the grip portion, the reading opening
and the information code being opposed to each other in the
front-back direction when the information code is read.
13. The optical information reader of claim 2, wherein the opened
portion has a length, the length becoming larger in a front-back
direction as moving away from the grip portion, the reading opening
and the information code being opposed to each other in the
front-back direction when the information code is read.
14. The optical information reader of claim 13, wherein the opened
portion has a further length which is one-half or longer in
relation to a distance, the further length being taken in a
direction in which the reading opening and the information code is
opposed to each other when the information code is read, the
distance being taken between a section of a periphery of the
reading opening on the grip portion side and a section opposite the
section on the grip portion side.
15. The optical information reader of claim 14, wherein the
extending portion includes a section opposite the section on the
grip portion side, and the opened portion is composed of one or
more opened portions partially cut out from a tip of the section
opposite the section on the grip portion side.
16. The optical information reader of claim 2, wherein the
extending portion includes a section opposite the section on the
grip portion side, and the opened portion is composed of one or
more opened portions partially cut out from a tip of the section
opposite the section on the grip portion side.
17. The optical information reader of claim 16, wherein the
extending portion includes an tip end which has a tapered surface,
the tapered surface being touched to a surface of a display medium
on which the information code is attached, such that the extending
portion has an extending direction which is oblique to the surface
when a user when the information code is read.
18. The optical information reader of claim 3, wherein the
extending portion includes a section opposite the section on the
grip portion side, and the opened portion is composed of one or
more opened portions partially cut out from a tip of the section
opposite the section on the grip portion side.
19. The optical information reader of claim 18, wherein the
extending portion includes an tip end which has a tapered surface,
the tapered surface being touched to a surface of a display medium
on which the information code is attached, such that the extending
portion has an extending direction which is oblique to the surface
when a user when the information code is read.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims the benefit of
priority from earlier Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-091426
filed Apr. 28, 2015 and No. 2016-089564 filed Apr. 27, 2016 the
description of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to an optical information
reader that optically reads an information code, such as a barcode,
and in particular, to an optical information reader manually
handled by users.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Optical information readers that optically read information
from information codes, such as barcodes, are now being widely used
in a diverse range of fields, such as the manufacturing industry.
In the case of such optical information readers, a reading
operation is often performed in a state in which a reading opening
and a desired information code are placed in proximity, so that
information provided by the information code can be reliably read.
For example, a barcode attached to a product may be read through
use of a portable-type reader that is provided in a cash register
of a store. In such cases, the barcode to be read is read in a
state in which the barcode is placed in contact with the reading
opening of the reader. As a result, reading of a barcode or the
like other than the barcode to be read is prevented. Here, a
reading operation of an information code attached to an object that
is too large to be lifted by hand, for example, is performed with a
certain amount of distance between the information code and the
reader.
[0006] However, in a reader such as that described above, a user
may not be able to see the information code as a result of the
information code becoming hidden behind the reader when the reading
opening is placed in contact with or close to the information code,
or the product or the like to which the information code is
attached. Consequently, the user of the reader may not be able to
ascertain the position of the information code in relation to the
reading opening. A reliable reading process may not be performed.
In particular, when a two-dimensional code is to be read, the
reading process becomes a failure, should only a portion of the
two-dimensional code be imaged as a result of the reading opening
not facing the two-dimensional code at an appropriate position.
[0007] Therefore, to solve issues such as those above, for example,
a configuration such as that of a data symbol reader, disclosed in
JP-A-H09-326004, can be considered. The data symbol reader 1 has a
casing that is composed of a grip portion and a head portion. The
head portion has a housing that is composed of side walls. In
addition, the side wall is composed of a transparent, plate-shaped
optical component. An optical thin film that selectively reflects
illumination light from a light source is provided on the back
surface of the side wall.
[0008] However, in the reader such as that in JP-A-H09-326004, at
least a portion of the housing is configured to be both a window
portion for viewing the information code and a component for
reflecting light from the information code and guiding the
reflected light to a light-collection optical system. Therefore,
the range of choices regarding the shape, material, and the like of
such a section (side wall) configuring the window portion for
viewing is limited. This configuration leads to a more complicated
structure of the reader. Repair is required when the side wall is
damaged.
SUMMARY
[0009] In consideration of the foregoing, it is thus desired to
provide a configuration that enables an information code to be
viewed during a reading operation, without use of a component that
is composed with a specific shape, material, and the like.
[0010] According to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided an
optical information reader (or optical information reading
apparatus). The reader includes: a main body portion that includes
a reading opening through which illumination light and reflected
light of the illumination light are transmitted; a grip portion
that is rigidly connected to a section of the main body portion
other than a section in which the reading opening is formed, and is
gripped by a user; an imaging unit that optically captures an image
of a predetermined imaging area through the reading opening; and an
interpreting unit that performs an information code interpreting
process based on the image of the imaging area captured by the
imaging unit. The optical information reader is characterized in
that: an extending portion that extends towards a reading side of
the reading opening is provided in a periphery of the reading
opening; and the extending portion has an opened portion that is
formed by being cut out, at least partially, from a tip end portion
of the extending portion and allows a line-of-sight of the user to
pass through the opened portion.
[0011] In the invention according to the first aspect, the
extending portion that extends towards the front (that is, a
direction toward an information code which is present in front of
the reader when being used) is provided in the periphery of the
reading opening. By way of example, the opened portion is
configured such that an opening is formed in the section of the
extending portion other than the grip portion side, by a portion of
the extending portion being cut out from the tip end thereof.
Therefore, even when the reading opening is placed near an
information code when the information code is being read, the
information code can be viewed through a gap formed by the opened
portion of the extending portion. As a result, the user of the
reader is able to confirm the position of the information code
through the gap formed by the opened portion of the extending
portion, from a side of the main body portion opposite the grip
portion side. The user is more easily able to place the information
code in a desired position that facilitates reading, in relation to
the reading opening. In addition, a configuration such as this can
be actualized without use of a specific shape or a specific
material in the extending portion. Increase in the number of
components can be suppressed, and simplification of the structure
of the reader can be achieved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] In the accompanying drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an
optical information reader according to a first embodiment of the
present invention, viewed from an upper right side;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a right-side view of the optical information
reader in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front view of the optical information reader in
FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the optical information reader in
FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a planar view of the optical information reader in
FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the optical information reader in
FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an overview of an
internal configuration of the optical information reader in FIG. 1,
together with a partial configuration of a variation example;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example of an electrical
configuration of the optical information reader in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a right-side view for explaining a configuration
near a reading opening of the optical information reader in FIG.
1;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a right-side view for explaining a state in which
an information code formed on a display medium is read by the
optical information reader in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a front view schematically showing a portion of
the optical information reader in the state shown in FIG. 10;
[0024] FIG. 12 is a front view schematically showing a portion of
an optical information reader according to another embodiment of
the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 13 is a front view schematically showing a portion of
an optical information reader according to another embodiment of
the present invention and having a configuration differing from the
configuration in FIG. 12;
[0026] FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view for explaining a
variation example of an opened portion formed in an extending
portion; and
[0027] FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view for explaining a
variation example of a configuration formed as an extending portion
and providing an opened portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
[0028] A first embodiment specifying an optical information reader
(or an optical information reading apparatus) of the present
invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG.
11.
[0029] An optical information reader 10 (also referred to,
hereafter, as simply a reader 10) according to the present
embodiment is configured as a code reader that optically reads an
information code C (see FIGS. 8 and 10). The information code C is
a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code, or the like. The
outer appearance of the reader 10 is as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7.
A circuit portion 20a is mounted on a circuit board 20 or the like,
and housed inside a case 11. The circuit portion 20a is composed of
various electronic components and the like. In addition, the case
11 is composed of a first case 11a and a second case 11b that are
molded members composed of a synthetic resin, such as acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene (ABS) resin. The reader 10 shown in FIG. 1 to
FIG. 7 is configured as a so-called gun type reader. The reader 10
includes a main body portion 12 and a substantially cylindrical
grip portion 15. A reading opening 13 is formed in an end portion
of the main body portion 12. An illumination light beam and
reflected light thereof pass through the reading opening 13. The
grip portion 15 is rigidly joined to the main body portion 12 in a
section differing from the section in which the reading opening 13
is formed. The grip portion 15 is gripped by a user.
[0030] Furthermore, a cylindrical extending portion 14 is provided
in the periphery of the reading opening 13 of the main body portion
12. The extending portion 14 is provided such as to extend from a
wall portion that forms the the periphery of the reading opening
13, towards the front of the main body portion 12. A cross-section
of the extending portion 14 that intersects the extending direction
(front/back direction) thereof is substantially rectangular. When
the reader 10 is in use, a tip end portion of the extending portion
14 faces the information code C, as shown in FIG. 10. In addition,
the grip portion 15 is configured such as to extend in a
longitudinal manner from a wall portion on the underside of the
main body portion 12. A trigger operating portion 42 (trigger
switch) that can be press-operated is disposed near an upper end
portion of the grip portion 15. A cable 48a for interfacing is
assembled near a lower end portion of the grip portion 15.
[0031] Next, an electrical configuration of the reader 10 will be
described with reference to the drawings.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 8, the circuit portion 20a that is housed
inside the above-described housing mainly includes an optical
system and a microcomputer system. The optical system includes an
illumination light source 21, a light-receiving sensor 28, an
imaging lens 27, and the like. The microcomputer system includes a
memory 35, a control circuit 40, and the like.
[0033] The optical system is divided into a light-projection
optical system and a light-reception optical system. As shown in
FIG. 7, the illumination light source 21 that configures the
light-projection optical system functions as an illuminating means
that is capable of emitting an illumination light Lf. For example,
the illumination light source 21 is composed of a red-colored
light-emitting diode (LED) 21a and a lens 21b provided on an
emission side of the LED 21a. As indicated by an illumination
optical axis L1 shown in FIG. 7, the illumination light source 21
is arranged so as to irradiate the illumination light Lf at an
angle in relation to an imaging optical axis L2.
[0034] The light-reception optical system is composed of the
light-receiving sensor 28, the imaging lens 27, a reflective mirror
(not shown), and the like. For example, the light-receiving sensor
28 is configured as an area sensor in which light-receiving
elements are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner. The
light-receiving elements are solid-state image sensors, such as
complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors or
charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors. The light-receiving
sensor 28 has a light-receiving surface as a square-shaped,
light-receiving area 28a. The light-receiving sensor 28 is mounted
on the circuit board 20 so as to be capable of receiving incident
light that enters via the reading opening 13, a protective plate
26, and the imaging lens 27. The light-receiving sensor 28
functions to capture an image of a predetermined imaging area. The
light-receiving sensor 28 corresponds to an example of an "imaging
unit". The imaging lens 27 functions as an imaging optical system
capable of collecting incident light that has entered through the
reading opening 13 from outside, and forming an image on the
light-receiving surface of the light-receiving sensor 28. According
to the present embodiment, the illumination light Lf radiated from
the illumination light source 21 is reflected by the information
code C formed on a display medium R. Subsequently, reflected light
Lr is collected by the imaging lens 27, and a code image is formed
on the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving sensor
28.
[0035] The microcomputer system is configured by an amplifier
circuit 31, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter circuit 33, the
memory 35, an address generating circuit 36, a synchronous signal
generating circuit 38, the control circuit 40, the trigger switch
42, a buzzer 44, a vibrator 45, a light emitting unit 46, a
communication interface 48, and the like. As the naming
"microcomputer system" implies, the microcomputer system is mainly
configured by the control circuit 40 that is able to function as a
microcomputer (information processing unit) and the memory 35. The
microcomputer system is able to perform signal processing, by
hardware or software, of image signals of an information code
imaged by the above-described optical system.
[0036] The image signal (analog signal) outputted from the
light-receiving sensor 28 of the optical system is inputted to the
amplifier circuit 31 and thereby amplified with a predetermined
gain. Subsequently, the amplified image signal is inputted to the
A/D converter circuit 33 and converted from an analog signal to a
digital signal. Then, the digitalized image signal, that is, image
data (image information) is inputted to the memory 35 and collected
in an image data collection area. The synchronous signal generating
circuit 38 is capable of generating a synchronous signal for the
light-receiving sensor 28 and the address generating circuit 36. In
addition, the address generating circuit 36 is capable of
generating a storage address of the image data stored in the memory
35, based on the synchronous signal provided by the synchronous
signal generating circuit 38.
[0037] The memory 35 is a semiconductor memory device. For example,
the memory 35 is a random access memory (RAM) (such as a dynamic
random access memory [DRAM] or a static random access memory
[SRAM]) and a read-only memory (ROM) (such as an erasable
programmable read-only memory [EPROM] or an electrically erasable
programmable read-only memory [EEPROM]). Of the memory 35, the RAM
is configured such that, in addition to the above-described image
data collection area, a work area and a reading condition table are
also able to be secured therein. The work area is used during
processes such as arithmetic operations and logical operations. In
addition, the ROM is able to store in advance therein, a system
program enabling control of hardware such as the illumination light
source 21 and the light-receiving sensor 28.
[0038] The control circuit 40 is a microcomputer that is capable of
controlling the overall reader 10. The control circuit 40 is
composed of a central processing unit (CPU), a system bus, an
input/output interface, and the like. The control circuit 40 is
capable of configuring the information processing unit together
with the memory 35, and also provides an information processing
function. The control circuit 40 is capable of connecting to
various input and output apparatuses (peripheral apparatuses) via
an internal input/output interface. According to the present
embodiment, the trigger switch 42, the buzzer 44, the vibrator 45,
the light emitting unit 46, the communication interface 48, and the
like are connected to the control circuit 40. As a result, the
control circuit 40 performs, for example, monitoring and management
of the trigger switch 42, ON/OFF of the sounding of the buzzer 44,
drive control of the vibrator 45, ON/OFF of the illumination of the
light emitting unit 46, and communication control of the
communication interface 48. The buzzer 44 is capable of generating
a beeping sound or an alarm sound. The vibrator 45 is capable of
generating vibrations that can be transmitted to the user of the
reader 10. The communication interface 48 enables communication
with an external apparatus.
[0039] The control circuit 40 corresponds to an example of an
"interpreting unit". The control unit 40 functions to perform an
interpreting process of a code image of an information code imaged
by the light-receiving sensor 28.
[0040] Next, configurations of the reading opening 13 and the
extending portion 14 of the reader 10 will be described in
detail.
[0041] According to the present embodiment, a direction that
substantially runs along a longitudinal direction ND (for example,
see FIG. 2) is an up/down direction. The longitudinal direction ND
is the direction in which the substantially cylindrical grip
portion 15 extends. The main body portion 12 side of the grip
portion 15 is an upper side. The opposite side of the grip portion
15 is a lower side. In addition, a direction perpendicular to or
intersecting with the up/down direction is a front/back direction.
The side of the grip portion 15 on which the trigger switch 42 is
provided is a front side. The side behind the front side of the
grip portion 15 is a back side. In particular, the front of the
extending portion 14 in the front/back direction is referred to as
a reading side or simply the front. In addition, a direction
(left/right direction in FIG. 3) perpendicular to the up/down
direction and the front/back direction is a left/right direction
(width direction). The left-hand side when the reader 10 is viewed
from the front side is a left side, and the right-hand side is a
right side. As indicated in FIG. 2, the longitudinal direction ND
of the grip portion 15 is tilted in relation to the direction in
which the main body portion 12 extends. Therefore, the
above-described up/down direction and the front/back direction are
merely introduced for convenience of description.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the reading opening 13 is
configured to be open towards the front, with a substantially
square shape, on the front side of the main body portion 12. In
addition, the extending portion 14 is provided in the periphery of
the reading opening 13. The extending portion 14 extends from a
wall section forming the periphery of the reading opening 13
towards the front side of the main body portion 12. The extending
portion 14 is set mainly for the purpose of securing a fixed
distance from the reading opening 13 towards the front, when an
information code is read. When the reader 10 is in use, the
information code C is present such as to be in contact with, or
separated from, the tip end of the extending portion 14.
[0043] The extending portion 14 has an opened portion 14a. When the
user uses the reader 10 such that the tip end of the reader 10,
that is, the tip end of the extending portion 14 faces the
information code C, as described hereafter, the opened portion 14a
functions as a defined gap or space portion for allowing a user's
line-of-sight to pass. That is, the opened portion 14a allows the
user to visually confirm the presence and/or the size of the
information code.
[0044] Here, the structure of the extending portion 14 will be
described in detail. The extending portion 14 is configured by an
extending top wall portion 14b, extending side wall portions 14c
and 14d, and an extending bottom wall portion 14e. In addition, the
opened portion 14a is formed in the extending portion 14 in a
section other than the section on the grip portion 15 side (in a
section away from the grip portion 15). Specifically, the extending
portion 14 has an eave-less structure or recessed ceiling structure
in which the extending portion 14 is partially notched or cut out,
from an edge on the upper front side thereof towards the lower
backside. In the present embodiment, it can also be said that the
opened portion 14a is made up of a partially recessed upper-side
tip edge which is recessed backward or set back so that a space for
a user's view is produced just in front of an information code C
(refer to FIG. 10) when the information code C is read.
[0045] An inverse U-shaped section of the extending portion 14,
when viewed from the front side, that is positioned further towards
the back side than the opened portion 14a and extends towards the
front side (the side facing the information code during use) of the
main body portion 12 serves as the extending top wall portion 14b.
Specifically, the extending top wall portion 14b is configured by a
section that extends towards the front side of the main body
portion 12 at the top side of the reading opening 13 (the
upper-side section configuring the periphery of the reading opening
13) and above substantially center positions on both the left and
right sides of the reading opening 13. In addition, the extending
top wall portion 14b is configured at an angle so as to project
towards the front as the front-side end portions (the upper side
sections of the opened portion 14a) on both the left and right
sides approach the lower side.
[0046] Furthermore, the section of the extending portion 14 on the
grip portion 15 side serves as the extending bottom wall portion
14e. That is, the extending bottom wall portion 14e is configured
to extend from the section at the bottom side of the reading
opening 13 (the lower-side section configuring the periphery of the
reading opening 13) towards the front side. The extending bottom
wall portion 14e has a substantially rectangular shape with a plate
surface that is perpendicular to the up/down direction. In
addition, an end portion on the front side of the extending bottom
wall portion 14e is formed such as to run along one edge of a
predetermined cross-section of the imaging area of the
light-receiving sensor 28. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the
end portion on the front side of the extending bottom wall portion
14e is configured to run along an edge AR1 on the lower side of a
cross-section of an imaging area (or imaging field-of-view) AR. The
cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the front/back
direction. The imaging area is determined by a distance from the
light-projection optical system of the main body portion 12.
However, the imaging area AR referred to according to the present
embodiment is an imaging field-of-view obtained at the position at
the tip of the extending portion 14.
[0047] In addition, the extending bottom wall portion 14e is formed
such that the length of the end portion on the front side thereof
is substantially the same as the length of the edge AR1 of the
imaging area AR. Specifically, the extending bottom wall portion
14e is formed such that the length of the extending bottom wall
portion 14e in the direction along the periphery of the reading
opening 13, that is, the length in the left/right direction (width
direction) is substantially the same as the width of the imaging
area of the light-receiving sensor 28 in the left/right
direction.
[0048] Furthermore, the sections of the extending portion 14 that
are connected in a substantially perpendicular to the extending
bottom wall portion 14e serve as the extending side wall portions
14c and 14d. That is, the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d
are configured to extend towards the front side of the main body
portion 12, from sections that oppose each other with the reading
opening 13 therebetween and are positioned further towards the grip
portion 15 side than the opened portion 14a. More specifically, the
extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are configured to extend
towards the front side, in a substantially rectangular shape, in
the sections of the periphery of the reading opening 13 that are
further below the substantially center positions on both the left
and right sides. In addition, the end portions on the front side of
the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are each formed such
as to run along one edge of a predetermined cross-section of the
imaging area of the light-receiving sensor 28. Specifically, as
shown in FIG. 11, the end portions on the front side of the
extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are configured to run
along left and right edges AR2 and AR3 of a cross-section of the
imaging area AR. The cross-section is perpendicular to the
front/back direction. In addition, the respective lower end
portions of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are
connected to the extending bottom wall portion 14e. The extending
side wall portions 14c and 14d are formed integrally with the
extending bottom wall portion 14e.
[0049] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, the extending side wall
portions 14c and 14d each have a front surface FF that is a surface
on the front side and opposing the display medium R (precisely a
medium surface of the display medium R, which holds an information
code thereon), in contact or with distance therebetween, during
use. The front surface FF has a tapered surface that retracts
towards the back at a fixed tilt angle .alpha., from a tip TP
thereof towards the lower side. The tilt angle .alpha. can be
prescribed as an angle formed by the front face FF and a normal
line in the up/down direction that runs through the position of the
tip TP. For example, the tilt angle .alpha. is about 12.degree..
The tapered surface FF is made to come contact with the medium
surface so that the extending direction of the extending portion 14
becomes oblique to the medium surface when a user tries to read the
information code C by making the tip of the extending portion 14
touch the display medium Ron which the information code C is
attached. That its, the tapered surface is formed so that the
optical system placed inside the main body portion 12 is not easily
affected by specular reflection during use. The tilt angle .alpha.
can be set to an appropriate value based on a geometric
relationship of the optical system.
[0050] The extending side wall portions 14c and 14d correspond to
an example of a "wall portion that is rigidly connected to a
section of an extending portion on a grip portion side".
[0051] The opened portion 14a of the extending portion 14 is formed
such that an opening length (i.e., cut-out width) in a direction
(front/back direction) in which the reading opening 13 and an
information code oppose each other increases as the opening portion
14b becomes farther away from the grip portion 15. That is, as
shown in FIG. 9, a distance A3 is greater than a length A2. The
distance A3 is the distance between a side of the extending top
wall portion 14b on the upper side and the front-side end portion
of the extending side wall portion 14c or 14d. The length A2 is the
length by which the extending side wall portion 14c or 14d extends
towards the front from the connecting section between the extending
side wall portion 14c or 14d and the front-side end portion of the
extending top wall portion 14b. As a result of a configuration such
as this, an angle .theta.1 formed by the side of the extending side
wall portion 14c or 14d in the upper-side end portion, and the side
of the extending top wall portion 14b on the front-side end portion
(the upper-side section of the opened portion 14a) becomes an
obtuse angle.
[0052] In addition, the opened portion 14a of the extending portion
14 is configured such that the opening length in the front/back
direction is at least one-half or longer, in relation to a distance
between the section of the periphery of the reading opening 13 on
the grip portion 15 side and the section opposite the section on
the grip portion 15 side. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the
length A2 is one-half in relation to a distance A1 between the
upper-side end portion of the extending top wall portion 14b and
the front-side end portion of the extending bottom wall portion
14e.
[0053] Next, a reading operation of an information code performed
by the reader 10 will be described.
[0054] To enable the reader 10 to reliably read the desired
information code C (such as a Quick Response [QR] code [registered
trademark]), as shown in FIG. 10, the reader 10 is placed near the
display medium R. The information code C is formed in the display
medium R. At this time, the opened portion 14a is formed in the
extending portion 14 that is formed in the periphery of the reading
opening 13. The opened portion 14a is formed in a section (a
section on the upper front-side) away from the grip portion 15.
Therefore, even when the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d
come into contact with the display medium R, a gap (space) is
formed between the display medium R and the extending portion 14
(more specifically, the opened portion 14a). Specifically, the
display medium R and the extending top wall portion 14b are
separated by a distance amounting to the length in the front/back
direction of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d. An
opened section that is open on the upper side is formed by the
display medium R, the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d, and
the extending top wall portion 14d. Therefore, the user who is
gripping the reader 10 is able to see the front side of the reading
opening 13 from above, through the gap between the opened portion
14a of the extending portion 14 and the display medium R. As a
result of the information code C formed in the display medium R
being visible from the upper side in this way, the reader 10 can be
moved to a desired position enabling the information code C to be
easily read through the reading opening 13.
[0055] The respective front surfaces FF of the extending side wall
portions 14c and 14d are tapered surfaces. Therefore, during the
reading operation, the user can easily manually adjust the angle of
the reader 10 that the user is gripping, such that a line LN along
the tapered surface comes into contact with the display medium R,
as in a reading state indicated by a virtual line R (LN) in FIG.
10. The tilt angle .alpha. of the tapered surface is set to enable
prevention of specular reflection in the optical system, as
described above. When specular reflection occurs, the control
circuit 40 does not issue a command for completion of the reading
operation. Therefore, the user waits for the command for completion
of the reading operation while manually changing the angle of the
extending portion 14 in relation to the display medium R. When the
user manually changes the angle, the tapered surface can be used as
an assisting means. The reading state indicated by the virtual line
R (LN) in FIG. 10 can be easily achieved. As a result, a state in
which reading is not possible due to specular reflection can be
easily prevented.
[0056] Furthermore, as described above, the end portions of the
extending side wall portions 14c and 14d on the information code C
side (the front side) are each formed so as to run along an edge
(edges AR2 and AR 3) of a predetermined cross-section of the
imaging area AR of the light-receiving sensor 28. Therefore, as
shown in FIG. 10, when the display medium R and the front-side end
portions of the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d are placed
opposing each other in proximity or in contact with each other, as
shown in FIG. 11, the relative position of the information code C
in the left/right direction in relation to the imaging area AR can
be ascertained. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the information code
C can be fitted within the imaging area AR in the left/right
direction, as a result of the reading opening 13 being arranged in
relation to the information code C such that the left and right end
portions of the information code C are fitted inside an area
sandwiched between the front-side end portions of the extending
side wall portions 14c and 14d. In addition, the left and right end
portions of the information code C are placed so as to respectively
run along the inner edges of the front-side end portions of the
extending side wall portions 14c and 14d. As a result, the
front-side end portions of the extending side wall portions 14c and
14d serve as indicators for maximizing use of the width of the
imaging area AR in the left/right direction.
[0057] In addition, as described above, the end portion of the
extending bottom wall portion 14e on the information code C side
(the front side) is formed so as to run along an edge (edge AR1) of
a predetermined cross-section of the imaging area AR of the
light-receiving sensor 28. Therefore, when the display medium R and
the front-side end portions of the extending side wall portions 14c
and 14d are placed opposing each other in proximity or in contact
with each other as shown in FIG. 10, the user gripping the reader
10 can view the end portion of the extending bottom wall portion
14e on the front side and the information code C from above,
through the gap between the opened portion 14a of the extending
portion 14 and the display medium R (see FIG. 9). As a result, the
user can ascertain the relative position of the information code C
to the imaging area AR. For example, when the user views the front
of the reading opening 13 from above, at the angle .theta.2, as
shown in FIG. 9, the user can fit the information code C within the
imaging area AR by positioning the lower-side edge of the
information code C slightly above the front-side end portion of the
extending bottom wall portion 14e.
[0058] In addition, when the information code C is a barcode, for
example, and the information code C is arranged such that the
longitudinal direction thereof is the left/right direction, the
barcode can be more easily read by being arranged on a reading
line, such that the lower edge of the information code C is aligned
in parallel to the front-side end portion of the extending bottom
wall portion 14e.
[0059] As described above, the front-side end portions of the
extending side wall portions 14c and 14d and the extending bottom
wall portion 14e are each configured to extend along an edge of the
imaging area AR of the light-receiving sensor 28. As a result, the
imaging area AR of the reader 10 can be visually perceived by these
wall portions 14c to 14e.
[0060] In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, described above, the length
A2 is half the distance A1. Furthermore, the distance A3 is half
the distance A1 or more. Here, the distance A1 is the distance
between the extending top wall portion 14b and the extending bottom
wall portion 14e. The length A2 is the length by which the
extending side wall portion 14c or 14d extends towards the front
from the connecting section between the extending side wall portion
14c or 14d and the front-side end portion of the extending top wall
portion 14b. The distance A3 is the distance between the side of
the extending top wall portion 14b on the upper side and the
front-side end portion of the extending side wall portion 14c or
14d. Therefore, even when the display medium R and the extending
side wall portions 14c and 14d come into contact (see FIG. 10), as
shown in FIG. 9, the user is able to view the inside of the space
formed in front of the reading opening 13 from above, at the angle
.theta.2 (such as 25.degree.) in relation to the display medium
R.
[0061] Next, a case in which the information code C is read with
the extending portion 14 placed in contact with the display medium
R in which the information code C is formed will be described. The
user moves the reader 10 such that the extending portion 14 is in
contact with the information code C at an appropriate position (a
position in which the information code C fits within the imaging
area AR, as shown in FIG. 11), based on the above-described
configuration. Subsequently, the user presses the trigger switch 42
and starts the reading process of the information code C. Here, the
extending portion 14 is provided so as to extend towards the front
of the reading opening 13. Therefore, the reading opening 13 can be
placed away from the display medium R by the extension distance of
the extending portion 13 towards the front. In a similar manner,
the grip portion 15 can be placed away from the display medium R by
the extension distance, as a result of the extending portion 14.
The grip portion 15 is formed in the section of the main body unit
12 opposite the section in which the reading opening 13 is
formed.
[0062] As a result, interference between the information code C or
the display medium R, and the hand of the user gripping the grip
portion 15 does not easily occur. For example, the pressing
operation of the trigger switch 24 can be smoothly performed. That
is, the reading operation performed by the user with the reader 10
is no longer hindered. As a result of a configuration such as this,
even should the reader 10 be placed in a predetermined location
such that the reading opening 13 is facing downward, for example, a
gap is formed between the grip portion 15 and an installation
surface as a result of the presence of the extending portion 14.
Therefore, the user is able to grip the grip portion 15 and easily
lift the reader 10.
[0063] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the
extending portion 14 is provided in the periphery of the reading
opening 13. The extending portion 14 extends from the wall section
in the periphery of the reading opening 13 towards the front. The
opened portion 14a is formed in the extending portion 14 in a
section differing from the grip portion 15 side. Therefore, even
when the reading opening 13 is placed near the information code C
during reading of the information code C, the user is able to
visually confirm the presence, size, and the like of the
information code C through the gap or the space portion formed by
the opened portion 14a of the extending portion 14. As a result,
the user of the reader 10 can more easily confirm the position and
the size of the information code C, through the gap formed by the
opened portion 14a, and arrange the reader 10 in the desired
position that facilitates reading of the information code C. In
addition, a configuration such as this can be actualized without
use of a specific shape or a specific material in the extending
portion 14. Increase in the number of components can be suppressed,
and simplification of the structure of the reader 10 can be
achieved.
[0064] Furthermore, at least a portion of the end portion of the
extending portion 14 on the information code C side is configured
to run along an edge of the imaging area AR of the light-receiving
sensor 28.
[0065] As a result of a configuration such as this, the relative
position of the information code C to the reading opening 13 can be
determined with reference to the position of the end portion of the
extending portion 14 on the information code C that runs along an
edge of the imaging area AR of the light-receiving sensor 28. The
information code C can be more easily fitted within the imaging
area AR. As a result, the reader 10 can more easily read the
information code C, and the success rate of the reading operation
can be improved.
[0066] In addition, the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d
that are connected to the section of the extending portion 14 on
the grip portion 15 side are configured such that the end portions
thereof on the information code C side are each formed to run along
an edge (AR2 and AR3) of the imaging area AR of the light-receiving
sensor 28.
[0067] As a result of a configuration such as this, the relative
position of the information code C to the reading opening 13 can be
determined with reference to the end portions of the extending side
wall portions 14c and 14d on the information code C side. The
information code C can be more easily fitted within the imaging
area AR. Furthermore, as a result of the information code C being
positioned to run along the end portions of the extending side wall
portions 14c and 14d on the information code C side, the
information code C can be fitted within the imaging area AR so as
to maximize use of the imaging area AR.
[0068] In addition, the section (extending bottom wall portion 14e)
of the extending portion 14 on the grip portion 15 side is
configured such that the end portion thereof on the information
code C side is formed to run along an edge (AR1) of the imaging
area AR of the light-receiving sensor 28.
[0069] As a result of a configuration such as this, the relative
position of the information code C to the reading opening 13 can be
determined with reference to the end portion of the extending
bottom wall portion 14e on the information code C side. The
information code C can be more easily fitted within the imaging
area AR. Furthermore, as a result of the information code C being
positioned to run along the end portion of the extending bottom
wall portion 14e on the information code C side, the information
code C can be fitted within the imaging area AR so as to maximize
use of the imaging area AR.
[0070] In addition, the opened portion 14a of the extending portion
is formed such that the length in the direction (front/back
direction) in which the reading opening 13 and the information code
C oppose each other increases as the opened portion 14a becomes
farther away from the grip portion 15.
[0071] As a result of a configuration such as this, the opening
length of the extending portion 14 increases as the opened portion
14a becomes farther away from the grip portion 15. The information
code C becomes more easily visible from the side of the main body
portion 12 opposite the grip portion 15 side. Meanwhile, the opened
portion 14a of the extending portion 14a can more easily have a
smaller opening length in the section near the grip portion 15.
High strength can be maintained in the connecting section between
the reading opening 13 and the extending portion 14.
[0072] Furthermore, the opened portion 14a is configured such that
the opening length in the direction (front/back direction) in which
the reading opening 13 and the information code C oppose each other
is at least one-half or longer, in relation to the distance between
the section of the periphery of the reading opening 13 on the grip
portion 15 side and the section opposite the section on the grip
portion 15 side.
[0073] As a result of a configuration such as this, the opening
length of the opened portion 14a is configured to be a
predetermined length or longer, in relation to the reading opening
13. Therefore, when the reading opening 13 is placed near the
information code C, the minimum gap (space portion) required to
enable viewing of the information code C through the opened portion
14a between the reading opening 13 and the information code C can
be secured.
Other Embodiments
[0074] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment
described above and with reference to the drawings. For example,
the following embodiments are also included within the technical
scope of the present invention.
[0075] According to the above-described first embodiment, an
example is described of a configuration in which the extending
portion 14 is notched towards the lower back side in the upper
front side of the extending portion 14. However, as long as the
configuration is such that the opened portion 14a is formed at
least in a portion of the section (the section other than the
extending bottom wall portion 14e) differing from the section on
the grip portion 15 side, the extending portion 14 may be formed
into other shapes.
[0076] For example, as shown in FIG. 12, in the extending portion
14 that extends from the wall section in the periphery of the
reading opening 13 towards the front side of the main body portion
12, a portion on the upper right may be notched. That is, the
extending portion 14 is configured in an extending manner,
excluding a portion of an upper right section of the reading
opening 13 (an upper right section configuring the periphery of the
reading opening 13).
[0077] In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, the extending portion 14
may be notched, excluding a section on the grip portion 15 side in
the periphery of the reading opening 13. That is, the extending
portion 14 is configured such that only the extending bottom wall
portion 14e extends from the periphery of the reading opening 13.
Furthermore, in a configuration such as this, the length of the
front-side end portion of the extending bottom wall portion 14e may
be formed to be substantially the same as the length of an edge
(AR1), on the grip portion 15 side, of a predetermined
cross-section of the imaging area AR of the light-receiving sensor
28. The user of the reader 10 can ascertain the width of the
imaging area AR (the length of the edge on the grip portion 15
side) based on the length of the front-side end portion of the
extending portion 14 on the grip portion 15 side. Therefore, the
information code C can be more easily fitted within the imaging
area AR. In addition, as a result of the end portions in the
left/right direction on the lower edge of the information code C
being matched to the end portions in the left/right direction in
the front-side end portion of the extending bottom wall portion
14e, the extending bottom wall portion 14e serves as an indicator
for maximizing use of the width of the imaging area AR in the
left/right direction.
[0078] In addition, according to the above-described first
embodiment, an example is described in which the extending side
wall portions 14c and 14d are formed in the reading opening 13.
However, a configuration in which either of the extending side wall
portions 14c and 14d is formed is also possible. When the extending
side wall portion 14c is formed, the end portion on the front side
(the side facing the information code) thereof is formed running
along an edge (edge AR2) of a predetermined cross-section of the
imaging area AR of the light-receiving sensor 28. When the
extending side wall portion 14d is formed, the end portion on the
front side thereof is formed running along an edge (edge AR3) of a
predetermined cross-section of the imaging area AR of the
light-receiving sensor 28. Even in a configuration such as this,
the reading opening 13 can be made to oppose the information code C
at an appropriate position, with reference to either of the
extending side wall portions 14c and 14d. In addition, as a result
of the information code C being positioned to run along either of
the extending side wall portions 14c and 14d, the width of the
imaging area AR in the left/right direction can be used to the
widest extent possible.
[0079] Furthermore, the opened portion 14a of the extending portion
14 described according to the above-described first embodiment can
be further modified into various shapes and structures. FIG. 14 and
FIG. 15 show typical variation examples of the opened portion 14a.
The extending top wall portion 14b of the extending portion 14
shown in FIG. 1 and the like corresponds to a remaining section
when the opened portion 14a is formed by a portion of the top wall
and a portion of the left and right side walls of the extending
portion 14 being notched or cut out from the tip end portions
thereof. Numerous examples of the notch or the cut-out can be
supposed. Typical examples thereof are shown in FIG. 14 and FIG.
15.
[0080] In the variation example shown in FIG. 14, a first opened
portion 14a1 and a second opened portion 14a2 are formed in the
extending top wall portion 14b of the extending portion 14. The
first opened portion 14a1 and the second opened portion 14a2 are
each formed by the extending top wall portion 14b being notched or
cut out in a substantially semicircular shape from the tip end side
to the back side thereof. The first and second opened portions 14a1
and 14a2 are arrayed in the left/right direction. In this
configuration, a left-most end LF and a right-most end RT of the
first and second opened portions 14a1 and 14a2 are preferably set
to match the left and right ends of the imaging area (imaging
field-of-view) AR, described above. A reason for this is to
facilitate visual confirmation by the user of the presence and size
of the information code C through the gap or space portion
configured by the first and second opened portions 14a1 and
14a2.
[0081] In addition, in the variation example shown in FIG. 15, two
bar-shaped members B1 and B2 form the extending portion 14. The two
bar-shaped members B1 and B2 extend in the front/back direction
from the bottom ends of the wall sections on the left and right of
the reading opening 13. The two bar-shaped members B1 and B2 are
composed of a resin, for example. The lengths of the two bar-shaped
members B1 and B2 are set such that the imaging area AR of a
certain size can be obtained, as described above. In the case of
the two bar-shaped members B1 and B2, the top, bottom, left, and
right planes, excluding the bars, are open. The open portions,
particularly the upper-side space, provide the user with an opened
portion for viewing the information code C.
[0082] Working effects identical to those achieved according to the
above-described first embodiment can be achieved in the foregoing
variation examples as well.
[0083] Furthermore, according to the above-described first
embodiment, the section that is notched to form the opened portion
14a in the extending portion 14 may be covered by a transparent
member. For example, a transparent member composed of a resin
material or the like may be connected to the opened portion 14a, in
a shape similar to the notched section of the extending portion 14.
As a result of a configuration such as this, even when the reader
10 is placed near the information code C, the information code C
can be viewed through the transparent member. Attachment of dust
and the like to the reading opening 13 can be prevented. In
addition, as a result of a soft, silicon material or the like being
used in the transparent member, cushioning can be improved.
Strength against impact can be enhanced.
[0084] Still further, in the reader 10 according to the
above-described first embodiment, the protective plate 26 may be
tilted such that the upper-side portion is tilted further towards
the front than the lower-side portion, as indicated by a virtual
line 26' in FIG. 7. As a result, the effect of specular reflection
caused by the illumination light in the light-reception optical
system can be more easily prevented. This variation example is also
similarly applicable to the various variation examples described
above, in addition to the first embodiment.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0085] 10: optical information reader [0086] 12: main body portion
[0087] 13: reading opening [0088] 14: extending portion [0089] 14a,
14a1, 14a2: opened portion [0090] 14b: extending top wall portion
[0091] 14c, 14d: extending side wall portion (wall portion) [0092]
14e: extending bottom wall portion [0093] 15: grip portion [0094]
28: light-receiving sensor (imaging unit) [0095] 40: control
circuit (interpreting unit) [0096] B1, B2: bar-shaped member
providing an opened portion [0097] AR: imaging area [0098] C:
information code [0099] R: display medium
* * * * *